Incoming freshmen at South Early College HS get an early start 

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Over 80 incoming South Early College High School freshmen are participating in the school’s annual Summer Bridge program in which students focus on core academic subjects, team building, career and college readiness, collaborative learning, and field trips.

Over the course of two weeks, students attend mini-workshops from Houston Community College faculty and staff on topics about dual credit, library services, counseling, advising, campus safety and classroom etiquette. Students also take the Texas Success Initiative, which is the college entrance exam.  Continue reading →

Christina Jordan named new principal of Fonwood Early Childhood Center

Christina Jordan poses for a photograph, November 7, 2016. (Dave Einsel)Christina Jordan has been selected as the new principal of Fonwood Early Childhood Center. She is a native Houstonian and product of HISD. Jordan began her 25-year career with HISD as a fourth-grade teacher at K. Smith Elementary School and has served as an instructional specialist, mathematics coach, academic trainer and new teacher supervisor. She most recently served as teacher specialist at Fonwood Early Childhood Center. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Educational Leadership, both from Prairie View A&M University.

 

Kimberly Agnew Borders named new principal of Shadydale Elementary School

Kimberly Agnew Borders poses for a photograph, September 2, 2015. (Houston ISD/Dave Einsel)Kimberly Agnew Borders has been selected as the new principal of Shadydale Elementary School. Agnew Borders began her 25-year career with HISD as an eighth-grade reading teacher at Marshall Middle School and has served as an assistant principal, reading coach, and team leader. She most recently served as principal of Fonwood Early Childhood Center. She has served as a principal for sixteen years in HISD. Agnew Borders holds a Doctorate of Educational Leadership from the University of Houston, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Houston, and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Texas at Austin.

Irma Sandate named new principal of Fonville Middle School

Irma Sandate poses for a photograph, January 13, 2016. (Dave Einsel/Houston ISD)Irma Sandate has been selected as the new principal of Fonville Middle School. Sandate began her career as a Spanish teacher at Moody High School in Corpus Christi, where she also served as an assistant principal. She continued her career in Corpus Christi as an assistant principal at Miller High School, a principal at Driscoll Middle School, and a principal at Allen Elementary School. She most recently served as principal of Durkee Elementary School in HISD beginning in 2015. Sandate holds a Master of Science in Secondary Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

Gerardo Leal named new principal of Park Place Elementary School

Gerardo Leal poses for a photograph during the Professional Learning Series at NRG Center, June 15, 2016. (Dave Einsel/Houston ISD)Gerardo Leal has been selected as the new principal of Park Place Elementary School. Leal began his career in education in 2002 as a third-grade teacher at HISD’s Robinson Elementary School. Prior to that, he served as a family literacy grant program coordinator at Park Place. He continued to develop his instructional leadership skills as an assistant principal at Deady Middle School before becoming the principal at Neff Early Learning Center, where he has served for the past six years. Leal earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of St. Thomas, his Master of School Administration from Lamar University and completed his doctoral degree in Professional Leadership from the University of Houston.

Juanette Green named new principal of Hines-Caldwell Elementary School

Juanette Green has been selected as the new principal of Hines-Caldwell Elementary School. Green began her career in 2005 as a middle school teacher in North Carolina. In 2011, she became an assistant principal at Penn-Griffin School for the Arts, a 6-12 public magnet school in Guilford County Schools. Green joined HISD in 2014, where she served as dean of students and dean of instruction at Hartman Middle School. She earned her Bachelor of Science in International Business from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her Master of Arts in Teaching from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She returned to UNCG for her Post Master’s Certification in School Administration.

Lulu DeAnda named new principal of Rodriguez Elementary School

Lulu DeAnda has been selected as the new principal of Rodriguez Elementary School. An 18-year veteran educator and administrator, DeAnda has experience spanning grades K-12 with a specific concentration in literacy development, the teaching of writing, and dropout prevention. DeAnda has served as an elementary principal as well as an assistant principal in high school, middle school, and elementary. Most recently, she was an eighth-grade assistant principal at Key Middle School. DeAnda earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, a Post-Baccalaureate in Early Childhood from the University of Texas at El Paso and a master’s degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. 

Rita Graves named new principal of Lamar High School

Rita Graves has been selected as the new principal for Lamar High School. Graves has served HISD for 20 years, starting as a first-grade teacher and reading specialist at Poe Elementary School. She then served as magnet coordinator and dean of magnet students at Pin Oak Middle School, a foreign language magnet school and National Blue Ribbon School, where she started a Chinese language program to complement the existing language program. Graves served as principal of Roberts Elementary School for six years and Pin Oak for three years. She has served on the U.S. Department of Education’s NAEP Principals’ Panel since 2014 and also participates on the NAEP Transcript Study Advisory Panel. Graves currently serves on the board of Texas Association of Secondary School Principals and is the former president of the Houston Association of School Administrators. Graves graduated from the University of Houston and was named Outstanding Young Alumna in 1998.

Record-setting 13 HISD schools set to open for the 2018-2019 school year

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This month, more than a dozen schools will formally open to students for the start of the 2018-2019 school year – the largest number of building openings at one time in district history.

“We’re excited to turn these new buildings over to the schools,” HISD Construction Services Officer Derrick Sanders said. “I think we’ve created wonderful new 21st century learning environments for the students, and we can’t wait to see them enjoying the new facilities.” Continue reading →

Nirmol Lim named new principal of Jones Futures Academy

(Milton Durango)Nirmol Lim has been selected as principal of Jones Futures Academy. Most recently, Lim served as the principal of Park Place Elementary School for three years. Prior to her principalship, she served as dean of instruction at Hartman Middle School and as a math teacher development specialist, collaborating with K-5 teachers throughout the district to strengthen their math practices. She began her teaching career in 2003 at Seguin Elementary School as a fifth-grade teacher and was identified as an ASPIRE Highly Effective Teacher for the district. Lim earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from University of Houston and her Master of Educational Administration from Sam Houston State University. She is currently completing her Doctor of Education in Public School Administration from Texas A&M University.